Page 8 of Claiming His Rejected Mate

Damon doesn’t flinch. “It makes sense, Kieran. Think about it. Magnus has been desperate to find a way to weaken us, and she’s theperfect pawn. Who would suspect her, a wolfless Omega, of playing spy?”

“She’s not an Omega,” I snap, the words harsher than I intended. “And she is definitely not wolfless.” Otherwise, how could we have felt our Mate bond?

Damon raises a brow, noting that I will not tolerate his disrespect of her. “Fine. She’s Nightclaw. And she’s Magnus’ daughter. That alone should give you pause.” He reaches into his pocket and hands me his phone. There are images and pages of strategy against the Moonfang. All focused on how they will breach our walls and spy our ranks.

“They have been planning this for months. This was found in the younger Callister’s belongings when I noticed you taking her into the woods.”

I glance back at Hazel, my mind racing. She’s Magnus’ daughter, not just a warrior under his command? She stands with her troop now, her head held high despite the way some of them look at her, like she doesn’t quite belong. The sight twists something in my chest, but Damon’s words linger, casting a shadow over the bond that feels so pure, so right.

“She is not a good candidate for…your pleasures, Alpha. It will do the pack good to discard her.”

I grit my teeth, my fingers digging into the arm of my chair. Damon is rarely wrong, and his instincts have kept this pack safe for years. But the idea of Hazel—my Hazel—being involved in anything that could harm Moonfang feels impossible. But she is Nightclaw. Her allegiance has belonged to them all her life.

“I’ll deal with it,” I say finally, my tone clipped.

Damon nods, stepping back as if the matter is already settled. But it isn’t. Not for me.

My eyes find her again, drawn to her like a moth to flame. Her dark brown hair catches the light, her stormy gray eyes scanning the arena with a sharpness that speaks of her training. She’s lean and small compared to the others, but there’s a fire in her, a strength that makes her stand out.

And she’s mine.

The thought sends a surge of possessiveness through me, my wolf snarling in agreement.

Her gaze flicks up then, meeting mine for a brief, electric moment. The bond hums between us, strong and undeniable, and my wolf surges forward, demanding that I go to her, that I pull her from this place and keep her safe by my side.

But Damon’s words echo in my mind, a sharp reminder of the storm brewing around us.

Her scent curls around me like a thread of wildfire, smoky yet soft, sharp and sweet with an edge of something primal. The heat of her body against mine. The buttery softness of her skin, the feel of my lips roaming her body. The way she moaned my name as I entered her. The way she came for me, over and over, her gorgeous face crumpled in the throes of ecstasy. Mine.

She’s moving toward me, her round, translucent eyes locked on mine. Her dark brown hair falls in loose waves over her shoulders, and the firelight catches on the sheen of her sweat. She bites her lip in that way that hardens me in an instant.

Those lush, rich cherry lips. Her scent hits me like a physical blow, stronger now, tinged with the unmistakable heat of her wolf. I’m ready to fuck her right here, not caring that there is an event I should be present at. That there are treaties to sign. That there are negotiations to be made.

“She is my mate, Damon,” I snarl, my wolf’s protective instincts kicking in. My fingers curl into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fight the instinct to go to her. To claim her. To shield her from the stares of everyone around us.

“Alpha,” Damon’s voice murmurs at my side, quiet but firm. “This is exactly what Magnus wants. You think it’s a coincidence that she’s here, that you’re reacting to her this way? She’s a tool. A distraction. She does not have a wolf to mate. If the whispers among her troop are true, then she may have used something to initiate the Mate bond. Some kind of spell, perhaps.”

I don’t respond, my jaw tight as I watch Hazel step into the circle of light cast by the nearest brazier. My wolf growls, a deep rumble that vibrates through my chest. She’s ours. She’s innocent. You know this.

But Damon’s words slither through my mind like poison. What if she’s not? What if she’s been placed here to weaken me, to sabotage everything I’ve built for Moonfang? It’s right there in cold, hard evidence. There’s no reason for her to abandon her pack just because we are Mates. It is the perfect avenue to work in their favor. What was I thinking?

Hazel stops just a few feet away, the firelight dancing across her face. Her scent washes over me again, and I feel my control slipping, the bond thrumming between us like a live wire.

“Alpha Kieran,” she says, her voice steady despite the faint tremor beneath it. “I need to speak with you.”

“What is your relationship with Magnus?”

I watch the confusion settle in her eyes.

“Kieran, wait. I can explain. Just—”

“Answer me,” I growl.

Her cheeks color with shame. “He's my father.” Her admittance is like a spear through my chest. They are blood. There is no use.

“You’ve been working with Magnus,” I say, the accusation spilling from my lips like venom. “Spying. You want to get closer to me to feed him information to use against me.”

Her eyes widen.

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